311s are good quality working man's double barrel boxlock shotguns, of the sort that aren't built in America any more. They are pretty simple inside and pretty durable too. Value wise they didn't cost a lot new, and have appreciated some, more in some places than others. Around here a 311 with no cracks in the wood and sound barrels in original condition (not separated or cut down) will bring about $275-325 or so, that may differ in other places.

Re. the serial number, lots of less expensive guns made in the US before 1968 didn't have serial numbers. Not to worry.

The fancier boxlocks like the 511 or the Stevens/Fox Model B will bring a little more $$, but mechanically they are essentially the same gun. They just got gussied up a little more.

Lots of folks have soft spots for 311s, given enough time I'll bet you could become one of them 8^).

As far as chokes go, I think it is dependent upon barrel length. My 28" 311A in 16-ga is choke mod/full. My friends 26" 311A is choke more like IC/mod. Don't know if this was the rule, just from my experience. YMMV.

Regards - Ed

PS: As far as date codes go, try searching my user name and 311A. I think I posted a while back about where the date code stamp is found and what it means. I'll try to find the info when I get back from work in a couple of hours....

Here ya go: Look for the date code behind the hinge pin or ahead of the trigger guard on the bottom of the frame that is inside of a small circle. There will be a number and letter inside the circle. A=1949 ending with V=1968.

I just picked one up in 16GA today. took me a while to find it because like you, I was looking in the wrong spot. I needed to put on some magnifying glasses to find the mark just in front of the trigger guard. There's a very small oval with a 2-digit number followed by a letter. Mine is 12F or 1954.

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